SOLID HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST

The potential of calcined agrowastes particularly chicken eggshells (CES) impregnated with ripe plantain peels (RPP) as a suitable catalyst for the conversion of waste cooking oil to biodiesel (FAME) by trans-esterification was investigated. The catalyst derived from these agro-wastes was synthesized by dry impregnation using physical mixing. The free fatty acid (FFA) content of waste cooking oil used for transesterification was measured to be 0.131%. The reaction conditions with methanol to oil molar ratio of 6:1, reaction time of 90 minutes, catalyst loading of 2% oil weight and a temperature of 60°C was kept constant while the catalyst’s design mixing ratios of ‘RPP: CES’ was varied. The FT-IR, XRD and elemental analysis by XRF revealed the catalytic action of these materials (RPP and CES) is a result of their metallic content (K+ and Ca 2+ ) and their microstructural formation change is noticeable when calcined at above 700°C. The experiment was carried out by the trans-esterification of the oil using each of the different designed catalyst samples to investigate the influence of their different mixing ratios on biodiesel yield. The results of the chart plots using Microsoft Excel 2010 showed that the optimum biodiesel yield consistent with ASTM D-6751 and EN 14214 standards was 75.04 % and the catalyst mixing ratio of 1:3 by mass was the optimal design ratio

Transport powered by fossil fuels is becoming more dependent on global industrialization, which is accelerating the loss of these resources and exacerbating climate change. Beyond environmental issues, this dependence impedes socio-economic progress and the Sustainable Development Goals. Using calcined calcium phosphate effluent from sugar refining as a solid heterogeneous catalyst,
this research aims to manufacture biodiesel.

To optimize crucial process variables, this work utilized EDX analysis Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to convert waste cooking oil (WCO) into biodiesel. The catalyst, calcium phosphate scum, is derived from the sugar refining industry and is heterogeneous. After 29 iterations with a 5-level-4 factor Central Composite Design, a quadratic polynomial model was finalized. Reaction time (60-90 min), catalyst-to-oil weight ratio (1-4%), reaction temperature (40-70 °C), and methanol-to-oil ratio (6:1-18:1) were all fine-tuned in the study. It was proven that under these perfect conditions, used cooking oil may be transesterified.

Calcium zinc hydrogen phosphate (47%), fluorapatite (33%), osumilite (13.8%), and quartz (6.5%) were the solid mineral components found in the catalyst characterization results. These components were calcined to calcium oxides at a temperature of 1000℃. A significant pore capacity of 0.213cc/g and a high surface area of 235.505m2/g were found in the catalyst, respectively, according to the analytical analysis. This allows reactants to permeate quickly into the catalyst's interior. Based on the catalyst's elemental makeup, we know that it contains 50.4% silicon oxide (SiO2) and 41.436% aluminum oxide (Al2O3). FTIR study of catalyst indicated a medium stretch peak of methyl (C-H) group. SEM microscopy showed homogeneous spherical particles. EDS examination of catalyst revealed the presence of calcium and phosphorus in weight concentration at 62.67% and 25.99% respectively. Other elements were in trace levels.

With a reaction temperature of 55°C, a catalyst-to-oil weight ratio of 5%, a reaction time of 90 minutes, and a methanol to oil ratio of 12:1, numerical optimisation gave a maximum biodiesel yield of 93.2%.Notably, the reaction was highly impacted (p < 0.0001) by the catalyst concentration, time, and methanol-to-oil ratio. Consequently, it was found that Calcium Phosphate Scum derived from sugar refining businesses offers a cost-effective and efficient substitute for calcium oxide heterogeneous catalysts in biodiesel synthesis.